Job 6
1 And Job answered and said,
But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
For the arrows of the Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has a fodder?
6 Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
For my wrath can’t cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!
9 And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
10 Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leaped: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?
For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,
23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
